|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
|
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 155
Apprentice
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 155 |
I do my mixing using headphones or earphones and listening to my mix using any of these give me a pleasant balance. However, when I play it on PAs or other sound systems, the audio is not as balance as when using headphones or earphones.
Any tips to make a better mix?
Thanks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 9,326
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 9,326 |
Yep... don't mix using headphones.
They make studio reference monitors for a reason.
Most headphones and home stereo speakers are biased in some manner or another and add "color" of their own, by design, to the sound. Mostly mid bumps and low end. Mixing on them will make you unconsciously compensate and your music will come out with less low end and a hollowed out mid as a result most of the time.
I hear folks say they complete a mix and then "test it" on the car system, the home stereo, their ear buds, and their buddy's home stereo and it sounds different on each one. Yeah, the playback systems are different but the mix should sound good on every single one of them if it's a properly balanced mix. You should be able to do a mix on your studio rig that translates well across all playback platform respectably.
When mixing the music from our perspective, we want a clean, unbiased sound. In other words, we want to hear what's actually happening in the mix. We want the truth. Only by hearing the real mix, can we produce a mix that will translate well to other systems.
Also, in addition to that, we need to know what a mix is supposed to sound like and not mix according to what we think is ear candy.
And.... you need to mix, mix, mix, and mix some more and not just your stuff..... all sorts of stuff.
The end mix is a combination of knowing what needs to be at what levels and what EQ settings to use...... but it also requires quality tracks. If the tracks are poorly recorded to start with, no amount of EQ, technique, or luck, will salvage that mix and make it a good mix. You can't fix (easily) tracks that are out of tune or have poor timing or poor musicianship. Start with the best tracks possible.
There are a few websites that provide you with all the raw tracks to try your hand at mixing professionally recorded tracks. Getting a pro sounding mix takes practice and lots of hands on time. But start with a few things done right...... good tracks and a good monitoring system to actually hear the unbiased truth in the music.
Last edited by Guitarhacker; 05/04/17 02:00 AM.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 20,821
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 20,821 |
Join the free Recording Revolution: https://www.recordingrevolution.com/It is free and Graham teaches mixing, in fact he is in the middle of a series of mixing stages - but you can DL the entire course, recording and everything about it. Plus he shows you how to do it with stock programs and effects, i.e. no high end purchases necessary. I have learned a lot by watching his weekly blogs.
I want my last spoken words to be "I hid a million dollars under the........................"
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
|
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 155
Apprentice
|
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 155 |
Thanks for your input Guitarhacker and MarioD.
I also use reference studio monitors and headphones. When listening using these, the mix sounds good according to my taste but then, when I tried listening to other sound systems, I noticed that the vocal tracks doesn't sound that good in the mix. It seems like it does not blend well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
|
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 82
Enthusiast
|
|
Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 82 |
And.... you need to mix, mix, mix, and mix some more and not just your stuff..... all sorts of stuff.
A great resource for working on your mixing skills is http://www.cambridge-mt.com/ms-mtk.htm Here you'll find various styles of tracks along with mixes to compare yours to. There are also discussion and critique forums.
Band-in-a-Box PlusPAK Upgrade (2018) on Windows 10
Live instruments: Schecter Solo-6 Custom, Fender Mustang III v2.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 18,888
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 18,888 |
I also use reference studio monitors and headphones. When listening using these, the mix sounds good according to my taste but then, when I tried listening to other sound systems, I noticed that the vocal tracks doesn't sound that good in the mix. It seems like it does not blend well.
Froi, When you think that the mix is complete, it's very important to take a break from it for a day or two. This is necessary because the ears and the brain get used to the sound. After a day's break, when you return to mixing it, you will hear where it doesn't quite work properly. (That's my experience, at least). I've found that I usually have about three run throughs where I can tweak the mix accurately before familiarity creeps in and overshadows my hearing the mix properly. I also find that when I think a song is complete, it's about another week to ten days before I get it sounding the best I can manage. The reason it takes me so long is because I only work on it for a couple of hours a day and then come back to it the following day with rested ears. This helps with getting the best out of the mix. The above is from my limited experience. I've still got a long way to go before I can consider myself any kind of authority on this. I agree with Herb. It's all about practising, practising and practising. I know that my mixes of today are a whole heap better than those from a year or more ago. Regards, Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2024
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
|
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,753
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,753 |
You might experiment on the PA/live mixer; go into 2 channels and pan them hard right and hard left. Or, be sure both channels are centered at the pan pots. Or, plug into a stereo channel and center up the balance knob. If you find something that works you'll probably need to be very consistent with how you mix future songs so you can tell the audio crew what to do and it works for every song.
That said;
It is very common to mix in mono not stereo for backing tracks that will be use for live performances. Most venues and churches are running everything in mono. Or, they are running in stereo but the pan pots on all or most channels are centered. That doesn't mean absolutely everything needs to be mono. You may want some special fx to sweep from side to side or many other creative ideas but mixing most of it with the pan centered.
If you have things panned hard left and right you might be missing some material in the main mix or even in the stages floor monitors and people sitting on the left of the stage might not hear what is happening on the right and vice-a-versa.
I have done outdoor sound reinforcement where we ran the whole band in stereo with 4 sets of mains across the front of the stage. The audience was set back about 15 feet or more from the front of the stage. The speakers stacks where maybe 10 - 12 feet apart from each other and mixed like this; From left to right; panned left - panned right - panned left - panned right. So even in the middle you heard stereo.
Lately I've been using Note's Nortons technique of mixing my bass and drums panned hard left and all else panned hard right in my DAW. But for mixing and performance the left signal goes into a mono/centered channel and the right signal goes into a separate mono/centered channel. The setting of both channels are duplicated as close as possible. This way my playback (and monitoring while mixing) is mono but I can quickly raise and lower the bass and drums on the fly during performances. I run my PA myself from the stage. However, I am doing my best to get the initial mix sounding good enough for a sound man to keep both channels even and still sound good. Or, in case I have to connect my backing tracks to a single stereo channel that has a "balance" pot it can be centered and hopefully be okay.
I also use a single powered PA speaker as one of my reference monitors while mixing. Which I crank up pretty loud and walk across the room to see how it sounds for a few minutes. That's one of my last steps in mixing a backing track. I make sure it sounds good in mono, loud through a PA speaker from a distance.
Does the noise in your head bother me ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 14,080
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 14,080 |
Are you using a reference song?
How far is the distance beteeen you monitors?
Are the monitors approximately at ear level?
Are the monitors high quality?
Are you generally using mono tracks?
Are you trying to mix with mastering plug-in active?
Bud
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Video: Next-Level AI Music Editing with ACE Studio and Band-in-a-Box®
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 German for Windows is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 für Windows Deutsch ist verfügbar!
Wir waren fleißig und haben über 50 neue Funktionen und eine erstaunliche Sammlung neuer Inhalte hinzugefügt, darunter 222 RealTracks, neue RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, "Songs with Vocals" Artist Performance Sets, abspielbare RealTracks Set 3, abspielbare RealDrums Set 2, zwei neue Sets von "RealDrums Stems", XPro Styles PAK 6, Xtra Styles PAK 17 und mehr!
Paket | Was ist Neu
Update Your PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 Today!
The Newest RealBand 2024 Update is Here!
The newest RealBand 2024 Build 5 update is now available!
Download and install this to your RealBand 2024 for updated print options, streamlined loading and saving of .SGU & MGU (BB) files, and to add a number of program adjustments that address user-reported bugs and concerns.
This free update is available to all RealBand 2024 users. To learn more about this update and download it, head to www.pgmusic.com/support.realband.htm#20245
The Band-in-a-Box® Flash Drive Backup Option
Today (April 5) is National Flash Drive Day!
Did you know... not only can you download your Band-in-a-Box® Pro, MegaPAK, or PlusPAK purchase - you can also choose to add a flash drive backup copy with the installation files for only $15? It even comes with a Band-in-a-Box® keychain!
For the larger Band-in-a-Box® packages (UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition), the hard drive backup copy is available for only $25. This will include a preinstalled and ready to use program, along with your installation files.
Backup copies are offered during the checkout process on our website.
Already purchased your e-delivery version, and now you wish you had a backup copy? It's not too late! If your purchase was for the current version of Band-in-a-Box®, you can still reach out to our team directly to place your backup copy order!
Note: the Band-in-a-Box® keychain is only included with flash drive backup copies, and cannot be purchased separately.
Handy flash drive tip: Always try plugging in a USB device the wrong way first? If your flash drive (or other USB plug) doesn't have a symbol to indicate which way is up, look for the side with a seam on the metal connector (it only has a line across one side) - that's the side that either faces down or to the left, depending on your port placement.
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows® Today!
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows for free with build 1111!
With this update, there's more control when saving images from the Print Preview window, we've added defaults to the MultiPicker for sorting and font size, updated printing options, updated RealTracks and other content, and addressed user-reported issues with the StylePicker, MIDI Soloists, key signature changes, and more!
Learn more about this free update for Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows at www.pgmusic.com/support_windowsupdates.htm#1111
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 Review: 4.75 out of 5 Stars!
If you're looking for a in-depth review of the newest Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows version, you'll definitely find it with Sound-Guy's latest review, Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows Review: Incredible new capabilities to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs.
A few excerpts:
"The Tracks view is possibly the single most powerful addition in 2024 and opens up a new way to edit and generate accompaniments. Combined with the new MultiPicker Library Window, it makes BIAB nearly perfect as an 'intelligent' composer/arranger program."
"MIDI SuperTracks partial generation showing six variations – each time the section is generated it can be instantly auditioned, re-generated or backed out to a previous generation – and you can do this with any track type. This is MAJOR! This takes musical experimentation and honing an arrangement to a new level, and faster than ever."
"Band in a Box continues to be an expansive musical tool-set for both novice and experienced musicians to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs, as well as an extensive educational resource. It is huge, with hundreds of functions, more than any one person is likely to ever use. Yet, so is any DAW that I have used. BIAB can do some things that no DAW does, and this year BIAB has more DAW-like functions than ever."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums66
Topics81,645
Posts735,415
Members38,526
| |
Most Online2,537
Jan 19th, 2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
There are no members with birthdays on this day. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean